CA2339077A1 - Activated carbon mesh network filter structure - Google Patents

Activated carbon mesh network filter structure Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2339077A1
CA2339077A1 CA 2339077 CA2339077A CA2339077A1 CA 2339077 A1 CA2339077 A1 CA 2339077A1 CA 2339077 CA2339077 CA 2339077 CA 2339077 A CA2339077 A CA 2339077A CA 2339077 A1 CA2339077 A1 CA 2339077A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
filter
activated carbon
filter structure
mesh network
airborne
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2339077
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Gary W. Mellette
Aristides Acosta
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Stackhouse Associates Inc
Original Assignee
Stackhouse Associates Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Stackhouse Associates Inc filed Critical Stackhouse Associates Inc
Publication of CA2339077A1 publication Critical patent/CA2339077A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D53/00Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
    • B01D53/02Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D39/00Filtering material for liquid or gaseous fluids
    • B01D39/14Other self-supporting filtering material ; Other filtering material
    • B01D39/20Other self-supporting filtering material ; Other filtering material of inorganic material, e.g. asbestos paper, metallic filtering material of non-woven wires
    • B01D39/2055Carbonaceous material
    • B01D39/2065Carbonaceous material the material being fibrous
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D46/00Filters or filtering processes specially modified for separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours
    • B01D46/0027Filters or filtering processes specially modified for separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours with additional separating or treating functions
    • B01D46/0036Filters or filtering processes specially modified for separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours with additional separating or treating functions by adsorption or absorption
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D46/00Filters or filtering processes specially modified for separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours
    • B01D46/24Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using rigid hollow filter bodies
    • B01D46/2403Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using rigid hollow filter bodies characterised by the physical shape or structure of the filtering element
    • B01D46/2411Filter cartridges
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D46/00Filters or filtering processes specially modified for separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours
    • B01D46/52Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using filters embodying folded corrugated or wound sheet material
    • B01D46/521Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using filters embodying folded corrugated or wound sheet material using folded, pleated material
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D2239/00Aspects relating to filtering material for liquid or gaseous fluids
    • B01D2239/04Additives and treatments of the filtering material
    • B01D2239/045Deodorising additives
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D2239/00Aspects relating to filtering material for liquid or gaseous fluids
    • B01D2239/12Special parameters characterising the filtering material
    • B01D2239/1216Pore size

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Geometry (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
  • Filtering Materials (AREA)
  • Solid-Sorbent Or Filter-Aiding Compositions (AREA)
  • Disinfection, Sterilisation Or Deodorisation Of Air (AREA)
  • Filtering Of Dispersed Particles In Gases (AREA)

Abstract

A filter structure for use within a filter system for capturing airborne contaminants and adsorbing odor. The filter structure includes a filtration medium of activated carbon fibers spun into an activated carbon mesh network filter for adsorbing airborne odors such as those transported by smoke and for capturing extremely small airborne particulate. A preferred filter structure includes, in order, a macro filter for capturing larger airborne particulate, an ULPA filter for capturing smaller airborne particulate, and an activated carbon mesh network filter formed of activated carbon fibers spun into a fiber mesh for adsorbing airborne odors and for capturing extremely small airborne particulate not retained by the macro or ULPA filters. The filter structure here defined provides superb particulate removal as well as odor adsorption, and is especially useful in thermal surgical procedures where smoke evacuation is a major goal in working toward maintenance of a safe operation site.

Description

ACTIVATED CARBON MESH NETWORK FILTER STRUCTURE
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
(Not Applicable) STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT
(Not Applicable) FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to air filtration, and in particular to a replaceable air and odor filter structure employable for evacuating smoke generated during a surgical procedure and including a filtration medium formed of activated carbon fibers spun into an activated carbon mesh network filter.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Filtration of airborne contaminants is extremely important where such contaminants have the potential of causing both short-term and long-term health hazards to those who would be exposed to breathing and/or otherwise contacting the untoward components in the air so filtered.
One exemplary, but non-limiting,. environment where potentially dangerous contaminants may be present is found in a surgical theater where patient tissue is exposed to electrosurgical excision, cauterization, or like heat producing treatments that cause smoke having tissue particulate therewith to emanate from the treatment site and enter the immediate atmosphere. Such particulate can be especially dangerous if its origin is from disease-containing tissue and if that particulate has a tendency to retain disease-transference capabilities.
The necessity for filtration systems to be able to effectively remove airborne particulate, including that found in smoke produced by burning tissue during a surgical procedure, is recognized in the prior art. For example, U.S. Patent Nos. 4,810,269 to Stackhouse, et al., 5,226,939 ~ r to Nicolas et al., and 5,456,248 to Holian et al. all teach variously configured mobile filtrat_~on systems capable of removing extremely small particles present in smoke generated during such heat-producing' surgical procedures.
At the heart of any filtration system is, of course, the effectiveness of its filter medium. In particular, filter media used in surgical applications must be able to remove ultra-small particulate w_Lth high efficiency.
Additionally, because tissue sear can be irritatingly odorous as well as contaminated, a :Filtration system that addresses odor treatment can be highly beneficial.
In view of the above beneficial characteristics for safe and efficient airborne particulate capture, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a filter structure incorporating an activated carbon mesh network filter formed of spun carbon fibers for capturing airborne particulate and adsorbing airborne odors.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a filter structure wherein the activated carbon mesh network filter thereof has a pore diameter between about seven and 10 angstroms.
Yet another object of the prE:sent invention is to provide a filter structure wherein the activated carbon mesh network filter thereof is preceded by an ULPA filter such that air passing through the filter structure passes last through the activated carbon mesh network filter.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent throughout the description thereof which now follows.

The present invention is a filter structure for use within a filter system for capturing airborne contaminants and adsorbing odor. The filter structure includes a filtration medium comprising activated carbon fibers spun into an activated carbon mesh networlc filter for capturing airborne particulate and for adsorbing airborne odors such as those transported by smoke. Preferably, the structure comprises, in order, the following three filter media: (a) a macro filter for capturing airborne particulate having a cross sectional area of a first size; (b) an ULPA filter for capturing airborne particulate having a cross sectional area of a second size smaller than the first size; and (c) an activated carbon mesh network filter formed of activated carbon fibers spun into a fiber mesh for adsorbing airborne odors and for capturing airborne particulate having a cross sectional area smaller than the second size and preferably down to about 0.12 microns.
Because of the spun fiber construction of the activated carbon mesh network filter, the resulting exposed carbonaceous surface area for odor adsorption is effectively enhanced as compared to adsorption capabilities of granular or powder carbon exposure. Additionally, the spun fiber construction assures uniformity of air flow which translates to a beneficially long life span and resultant lower costs. Functionally, the filter structure here defined provides superb particulate removal as well as odor adsorption, and is especially useful in thermal surgical procedures where smoke evacuation is a major goal in working toward maintenance of a safe operation site.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
An illustrative and presently preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation view in section of a prior art filter structures employing granular activated carbon;
Figure 2 is a side elevation view partially in section of a filter structure comprising an activated carbon mesh network filter; and Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a designated portion of the filter structure of Figure 2 as there encircled in phantom lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to Figure 1, a prior a.rt filter structure 10 is illustrated. The structure 10 includes an external housing 12 having an air intake 14 through which air is conventionally drawn for filtration as indicated by an arrow. Immediately downstream from the air intake 14 is a macro filter 16 for capturing relative large particulate that may be present in air to be filtered. Once air travels through the macro filter 16, it passes among a cylinder 18 substantially filled with activated carbon granules 20 whose function is to adsorb odor from the passing air. (It is to be noted that Figure 1 shows, for clarity, only minimal presence of carbon granules 20.) Finally, upon departure from the cylinder 18, the air passes through an ULPA filter 22 as known in the art to remove remaining particulate down to the size of interstices there present. Thereafter, the filtered air passes outwardly from the filter structure 10 as indicated by a departure arrow. As is thus apparent, prior art filter structures 10 provide only activated carbon granules 20 for odor adsorption, and such carbon granules 20 tend to reach odor adsorption capacity relatively quickly because surface area availability for adsorption is relatively limited. Once such capacity is reached, odorous air is discharged from the filter structure 10 back to the environment for potentially hazardous inhalation by personnel in the area.
Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, a filter structure 30 includes an external housing 32 having an air intake 34 through which air is conventionally drawn for filtration as indicated by an arrow. Immediately downstream from the air intake 34 is a macro filter 36 for capturing relative large particulate that may be present in air to be filtered.
Once air travels through the macro filter 36, which here i's a standard high loft polyester pad about 0.75 inch thick, the air passes into and through a standard ULPA filter 38 which is pleated and externally singularly wrapped with a fiberglass sheet 40, here being a 0.27 inch thick sheet manufactured by Manville Corp., Denver, Colorado, as type AFS-3-1/4 B2. Immediately downstream from the ULPA filter 38 and in contact therewith is an activated carbon mesh network filter 42, here as manufactured by Enhanced Filter Co., Ventura, California, under the name ULTRASORB B, U-200. The activated carbon mesh network filter 42 has an average pore diameter of seven to 10 angstroms and is constructed of activated carbon fibers spun into a fiber mesh for adsorbing airborne odors and for capturing airborne particulate having a cross sectional area down to about 0.12 microns and not earlier captured by the preceding ULPA filter 38. Its general pad-like construction can preferably be provided in a two-wrap configuration. A single standard cover web 44 and polypropylene mesh sheet 46 with about a 350 open area are positioned over the exposed surface of the activated carbon mesh network filter 42 as shown. As is evident, by placing the activated carbon mesh network f=filter 42 last in the sequence of filtration media, its time of filtration capability is lengthened since its mesh network is not exposed to polluted air until two preceding filter media first are exposed. In this manner the activated carbon there present remains active for odor adsorption rather than becoming clogged early with particulate.
Employment of filter structures 30 in association with surgical smoke evacuation devices results in the capture of microscopic and macroscopic particulate, along with the capture of simultaneously produced odorous vapors emanating from patient tissue within and upon the activated carbon mesh network filter 42. Thus, i.n an operating room environment where patient tissue is exposed to electrosurgical excision, cauteriz<~tion, or like heat producing treatments that cause smoke having tissue particulate therewith to emanate from the treatment site and enter immediate atmospheric air. a typical surgical smoke evacuation device employing th.e filter structure 30 conventionally draws such air into the air intake 34. The air travels first through the macro filter 36 where any relatively large particulate that may be present is captured. Next, the air passes into and through the ULPA
filter 38 where any particulate so filterable by the ULPA
filter and not earlier retained by the macro filter is collected. Upon exit from the LJLPA filter, the air traverses the activated carbon mesh network filter 42 where airborne odors are adsorbed by the carbon and any remaining particulate having a cross sectional area down to about 0.12 microns and not earlier captured is retained. The cleansed air then is discharged from the filter structure through an outlet 48 as illustrated by an arrow in Figure 2 to thereby return to the ambient atmosphere.
In the manner above described, as is evident therefrom, construction of the filter structure 30 promotes uniform air flow which results in greater filtration life before replacement since all filter media are advantageously exposed to passing polluted air. Enhanced filtration life not only leads to a greater economy of operation, but also produces environmental cleanliness and safety for those dependent upon ambient air quality. While an illustrative and presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed arid that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.

Claims (9)

1. A replaceable filter structure for use within a filter system for capturing airborne contaminants and adsorbing odor, said filter structure positionable within an airflow channel of the filter system through which air to be filtered is drawn under pressure, the filter structure comprising a filtration medium comprising activated carbon fibers spun into an activated carbon mesh network filter for capturing airborne particulate and for adsorbing airborne odors.
2. A replaceable filter structure as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the activated carbon mesh network filter is of generally uniform thickness.
3. A replaceable filter structure as claimed in Claim 1 wherein pore diameter of the activated carbon mesh network filter is from about seven to about 10 angstroms.
4. A filter structure comprising, in order:
a) a macro filter for capturing airborne particulate having a cross sectional area of a first size;
b) an ULPA filter for capturing airborne particulate having a cross sectional area of a second size smaller than said first size; and c) an activated carbon mesh network filter comprising activated carbon fibers spun into a fiber mesh for adsorbing airborne odors and for capturing airborne particulate having a cross sectional area of a third size smaller than said second size.
5. A filter structure as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the third size is about 0.12 microns.
6. A filter structure as claimed in Claim 4 comprising in addition an external housing having an air intake situated upstream from the macro filter for receiving ambient air drawn thereto under pressure.
7. A filter structure as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the ULPA filter is pleated.
8. A filter structure as claimed in Claim 4 wherein pore diameter of the activated carbon mesh network filter is from about seven to about 10 angstroms.
9. A filter structure as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the activated carbon mesh network filter is a pad configuration of generally uniform thickness.
CA 2339077 2000-03-03 2001-03-02 Activated carbon mesh network filter structure Abandoned CA2339077A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US51847000A 2000-03-03 2000-03-03
US09/518,470 2000-03-03

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2339077A1 true CA2339077A1 (en) 2001-09-03

Family

ID=24064069

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2339077 Abandoned CA2339077A1 (en) 2000-03-03 2001-03-02 Activated carbon mesh network filter structure

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1129762A1 (en)
JP (1) JP2001276527A (en)
AU (1) AU2326601A (en)
CA (1) CA2339077A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN107670461A (en) * 2017-10-23 2018-02-09 成都凯米拉科技有限公司 Exhaust gas adsorption device for the production of gemini quaternary ammonium salt expansion-resisting agent

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3071243A4 (en) * 2014-01-08 2017-08-09 Nevoa Life Sciences Apparatus for disinfecting an enclosed space
KR101923502B1 (en) * 2018-01-25 2019-02-27 한관우 Method For Purifying Waste Gas Ann Purification System Using The Method
JP7249028B2 (en) * 2019-05-31 2023-03-30 株式会社日本環境調査研究所 air filter
KR102375546B1 (en) * 2020-03-09 2022-03-17 (주)쓰리에이씨 Filter cartridge of air cleaner

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5124856A (en) * 1990-08-03 1992-06-23 International Business Machines Corporation Magnetic recording device with unitary filter medium to trap organic and inorganic chemical pollutants
US5910291A (en) * 1992-03-16 1999-06-08 Envirosurgical, Inc. Surgery plume filter device and method of filtering
FI92290C (en) * 1992-12-11 1995-09-13 Jaakko Raippalinna smoking room
US5772738A (en) * 1993-11-30 1998-06-30 Purex Co., Ltd. Multifunctional air filter and air-circulating clean unit with the same incorporated therein
US5997619A (en) * 1997-09-04 1999-12-07 Nq Environmental, Inc. Air purification system

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN107670461A (en) * 2017-10-23 2018-02-09 成都凯米拉科技有限公司 Exhaust gas adsorption device for the production of gemini quaternary ammonium salt expansion-resisting agent

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Publication number Publication date
EP1129762A1 (en) 2001-09-05
AU2326601A (en) 2001-09-06
JP2001276527A (en) 2001-10-09

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